Friday, May 29, 2009

1879] The world's most famous arena: Madison Square Garden opens to the public at Fifth Avenue & 23rd Street (5/31). Harper's Weekly describes it as "grimy, drafty and combustible." Wait till they see the Knicks play...

1889] Damn it all: The Johnstown (PA) flood kills more than 2,000 after a dam breaks sending tons of water rushing through the city (5/31)...

1907] Taxiiiiiiii: The first taxis in the U.S. arrive in New York City followed by an increase in traffic accidents (5/31)...

1922] Supes Rule: The Supreme Court rules that organized baseball is not a business and exempts the sport from antitrust laws and interstate commercial rules. Uh, they might want to rethink that ruling (5/29)…

1953] Because it was there: Edmund Hillaryof New Zealand and sherpa Tenzing Norgay become the first climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest (5/29)…

1970] The people's choice: Baseball's All-Star Game voting returns to the fans so they can vote .220 hitters into the game (5/30). You've gotta have a criteria for voting, people...

1973] Gotcha: Columbia Records President Clive Davisis fired for allegedly misappropriating company funds. Clive continues to thrive in his 70s (5/29) after making a remarkable comeback…

1982] They call it the streak: 21-year old Baltimore third baseman Cal Ripken Jr. begins his consecutive game streak (5/30). He will eventually move to shortstop but his streak will last more than 13 years and 3 months and break Lou Gehrig's previous consecutive game streak record...

2005] Vanishing teen: American teen Natalee Holloway is last seen leaving a bar with three young men while vacationing in Aruba before disappearing (5/30). Her body has never been found...For more on May 29 -31st:

Thursday, May 28, 2009

gives birth to quintuplets in Ontario, Canada. The quints are all girls: Annette, Cecile, Emilie, Marie and Yvonne. Seventy-four years later, Annette and Cecile are the lone survivors…

1951] Going yard: Willie Mays hits his first home run against future Baseball Hall of Famer Warren Spahn. These two will become teammates with the Mets twenty years later…1956] The Pirates’ Dale Long becomes the first player to hit home runs in 8 consecutive games. In 1987 the Yankees’ Don Mattingly and in 1993, Seattle’s Ken Griffey Jr. will tie the record…

1957] Westward ho: The National League approves the move of the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants to Los Angeles and San Francisco. The Mets will come along in 1962 when the National League returns to New York…

1977] Tragic fire: Singer John Davidsonescapes a fire at a supper club in Kentucky that takes 164 lives. Another 130 are injured…

1985] On the cover of Vanity Fair: President Ronald Reagan and first lady Nancy…

1987] Pilot roulette: 19-year old West German pilot Mathias Rust lands his plane in Moscow’s Red Square after penetrating Soviet air defenses. Rust is one lucky boy as he’s released in August, 1988…

1989] Bumper cars at the Indy: Emerson Fittipaldi and Al Unser Jr. play bumper cars at the Indy 500 with Unser helping Fittipaldi to win the race - not what Unser had in mind…

1996] Taking a bullet for Bill: President Clinton’s former business partners in the Whitewater land deal, James and Susan McDougal refuse to say the Clinton’s had anything to do with the case and end up in jail. Arkansas Governor Jim Guy Tucker is also convicted of fraud…

1998] Another SNL tragedy: Comic Phil Hartman, 49, of “Saturday Night Live” and “Newsradio” is shot to death at his home in California by his wife Brynn who then takes her own life…

2005] Rivalry rip: The Boston Red Sox score 2 touchdowns and a field goal to beat the Yankees 17-1 in the most lopsided score in their rivalry’s history. The Yankees score on a rouge…For more on May 28th:

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

1668] New England justice: Three colonists are expelled from Massachusetts for being Baptists. Lighten up people!!!

1932] Debuted on this date: Massachusetts Governor Joseph Ely signs a bill making Sunday baseball possible at Fenway Park…1933] The Walt Disney Company releases the cartoon “The Three Little Pigs” which featured “Who's Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf"…1937] The Golden Gate Bridge connecting San Francisco and Marin County opens to “pedestrians only". On May 28th it opens to traffic…

1941] Sink The Bismarck: The British naval and air forces do! 2,300 are killed on the German battleship…

1968] Papa Bear hangs up his paws: George Halas retires after 48 years as coach of the Chicago Bears…

1969] Disney discovers Florida: Construction of Walt Disney World begins in Orlando. The theme park will open in 1971...

1995] Superman upended: Christopher Reeveis paralyzed when thrown from his horse during a jumping competition in Charlottesville (VA)…

1997] The Supes Rule: The Supreme Court rules that Paula Jones can pursue her sexual harassment lawsuit against President Bill Clinton while he is in office...

1998] Guilty as charged: The government’s star witness in the Oklahoma City bombing case, Michael Fortier is sentenced to 12 years in prison for not apologizing for not warning anyone about the deadly plot…(For more on May 27th):

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

1868] Acquittal: President Andrew Johnson is acquitted (by 1 vote) of all charges in his impeachment trial...

1896] How now Dow Jones?: The Dow is published for the 1st time with the average price of the 11 initial stocks at $40.94, a bloody fortune in 1896...

1959] Wake me up before you throw-throw: The word "Frisbee" becomes a registered trademark of Wham-O...

1959] No one's perfect: Harvey Haddix of the Pirates pitches 12 perfect innings but loses in the 13th on the 1st hit he gives up - a Joe Adcock home run...

1972] Can you pass the SALT?: SALT 1 is signed by the U.S. and USSR putting a freeze on the testing and deployment of land and sub based ICBMs and ballistic missiles for 5 years...

1977] Who needs Spiderman: George H. Willig is arrested after he scales the South Tower of the WTC in 3 1/2 hours (or about the time it takes to get crosstown)...

1978] You can bet on it: The first legal casino in the eastern U.S. opens in Atlantic City...

1994] And somewhere Elvis is kvelling: Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley secretly wed in the Dominican Republic. They divorce 19 months later. I wish they would've kept it a secret from us...

1998] Now you tell us: The Supreme Court rules that Ellis Island, historic gateway for millions of immigrants, is mainly in New Jersey, not New York...

2004] Guilty as charged: Terry Nichols is found guilty of 161 state murder charges for helping carry out the Oklahoma City bombing. He receives 161 consecutive life sentences. Not enough for that crime...For more on May 26th:

Friday, May 22, 2009

1934] They're young, they're in love and they kill people: Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow are shot and killed in an ambush set up by former Texas Ranger Frank Hamer (5/23)...

1935] Bye bye Bab(e)y: Babe Ruth hits his 714th and final home run as a member of the Boston Braves. The blast reportedly traveled more than 600 feet (5/25)...

1954] Baruch atah: Robert Zimmerman is bar mitzvahed in Hibbing (MN) after taking private Hebrew lessons. Robert becomes a man and will eventually change his name to Bob Dylan, not because of Dylan Thomas but “because it sounded like a Scottish King and I liked it”. Those are Dylan’s own words (5/22)…

1987] Like father, like son: Al Unser, Sr. wins his 4th Indy 500 at the age of 47 (5/24). Five years later, same date in 1991, Al Unser, Jr. wins it, making junior the first, second-generation winner (5/24)...

1992] One more for the road: Johnny Carson hosts his final "Tonight Show" with Bette Midler singing to him (5/22). There was not a dry eye in the audience or at home. Johnny started hosting the show on October 2, 1962...

2002] Once was lost, now is found: The remains of Chandra Levy are found in a Washington (DC) park (5/22). California Congressman Gary Condit is questioned because of his personal relationship with the intern but is never charged with the crime...For more on May 22 - 25th:

Thursday, May 21, 2009

founds the American Red Cross and then starts a candy company (well, in New York anyway)…

1891] Pulling no punches: Peter Jackson and Jim Corbett fight to a 61-round draw. Both fighters complain about fatigue after the first 50 rounds…

1927] Touchdown: Charles A. Lindbergh lands his “Spirit of St. Louis” near Paris completing the first solo flight across the Atlantic…

1945] Wedding Bells: 46-year old Humphrey Bogart marries Lauren Bacall, less than half his age. They met while co-starring in “To Have And Have Not” and stay married until Bogey’s death in 1957…

1968] Buried at sea: The nuclear powered submarine USS Scorpion with 99 men aboard is heard from for the last time. The remains of the sub are later found on the ocean floor 400 miles southwest of the Azores…

1977] Rounding second and heading for third: Seattle Slew wins The Preakness Stakes and will become the first of two consecutive Triple Crown winners (Affirmed, the last Triple Crown winner, wins in 1978) when he wins the Belmont Stakes in June...

1979] Lord Stanley’s Cup overfloweth: Montreal wins their second straight Stanley Cup when they beat the Rangers in 5 games…1981] Thanks to Butch Goring’s two goals, the Islanders win their second straight Stanley Cup by beating Minnesota…

1979] Guilty as charged: Former San Francisco City Supervisor Dan White is convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the shooting deaths of mayor George Moscone and supervisor Harvey Milk. Believe it or not, White uses the “Twinkie” defense, claiming that junk food fueled his rampage…

1990] Just a dream, just a dream: Bob Newhart closes out his “Newhart” series by waking up Emily (his TV wife played by Suzanne Pleshette) and realizing that his new series about his life as an innkeeper was a dream. It’s the final first-run episode of the series that ran 8 seasons…

2008] Idolized: David Cook wins on 'American Idol' with 12 million votes...For more on May 21st:

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

receives a patent for using rivets to strengthen the pockets of the jeans he manufactures…

1899] Pedal to the metal: Jacob Erman of New York City becomes the first U.S. driver to be arrested for speeding. He exceeded the 12 MPH speed limit…

1916] Solid as a Rockwell: Norman Rockwell'sartwork, “Mother’s Day Off” appears on the first cover of “The Saturday Evening Post”…

1927] Lucky Lindy: Charles Lindbergh takes off from Long Island’s Roosevelt Field to cross the Atlantic en route to Paris aboard “The Spirit of St. Louis“…

1932] Also winging it: Amerlia Earhart takes off to fly solo across the Atlantic becoming the first woman to achieve the feat…1939] Pan Ambegins regular service from New York when a “Yankee Clipper” takes off from the harbor in Port Washington (LI)…

1961] Freedom Riders: Federal marshals are sent into Montgomery (AL) when a white mob attacks a busload of “Freedom Riders"…

1976] Red Sox-Yankees duke it out: Carl Yastrzemski hits 2 home runs, giving him 5 in 2 games, an ML record in an 8-2 Red Sox win over the Yankees as a melee breaks out resulting in Bill Lee injuring his pitching arm. The fight starts when Lou Piniella barrels into catcher Carlton Fisk. Lee, “The Spaceman” will never fully recover…

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

1536] Heads, you lose: Anne Boleyn, second wife of England’s King Henry VIII is beheaded after being convicted of adultery. Peter Noone left that part out of his hit…

1921] The more things change: Congress passes the Emergency Quota Actwhich establishes national quotas for immigrants…

1960] This King is dethroned: Alan Freedis arrested with 7 others on suspicion of commercial bribery. Freed refused to sign an affidavit in 1959 denying he had accepted payola. Although payola was not yet a crime, Freed is charged with 26 counts of commercial bribery but escapes with just a fine. His career, however, is ruined…

1962] Happy Birthday Mr. President: Marilyn Monroe performs a sultry rendition of “Happy Birthday” for President John F. Kennedy with Jackie by his side during a fund raiser at Madison Square Garden…

1969] Debuted on this date: Six-year old Jodie Fostermakes her show business debut on “Mayberry R.F.D.”…1999] “Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace" premieres and sets a new record for opening day sales at 28.5 million…2005] “Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith” almost doubles the original movie with 50 million on opening day…

1973] Big Red: The great Secretariat, winner of the Kentucky Derby, wins the Preakness by 2 1/2 lengths. In three weeks, perhaps the greatest thoroughbred of all-time will run away with the Belmont Stakes...

1992] Veep Speak: Vice President Dan Quaylecriticizes “Murphy Brown” because the title character has a baby out of wedlock…

1992] Taking a bullet for Joey: Mary Joe Buttafuoco is shot in the head and seriously wounded by her husband Joey’s teenager lover, Amy Fisher…

1994] ‘Happy Trails’: Former first-lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onasispasses away from cancer at 64…2006] Freddie Garrity, lead singer of Freddie and The Dreamers, dies from pulmonary hypertension at 69…

1994] Curtains: We say goodbye to “L.A. Law” which ends it’s 8-year run...For more on May 19th:

Friday, May 15, 2009

1602] If you’re fond of sand dunes and salty air: Bartholomew Gosnold, an English explorer known as “The Columbus of New England”, discovers Cape Cod (our favorite spot in N.E.) (5/15)…

1888] Not Cousin Brucie: Emile Berliner becomes the first radio disc jockey when his voice is heard on a flat disc demo (5/16)...

1930] Coffee, tea or me?: Ellen Churchbecomes the first airline stewardess. Ellen serves fliers on United Airlines between San Francisco and Cheyenne (WY) (5/15)…

1939] It'll never work: Princeton beats Columbia 2-1 in 10 innings at Baker Field in the first televised baseball game on experimental W2XBS (5/17). The New York Times review: "It is difficult to see how this sort of thing can catch the public fancy." Yeah, okay...

1941] The Streaker: Joe DiMaggio goes 1-for-4 and starts his 56-consecutive game hitting streak (5/15). This is an untouchable record...

1957] At the Copa: A brawl breaks out at the 29th birthday party for Billy Martin at the Copacabana (5/16). Billy, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Johnny Kucks, Hank Bauer and assorted spouses take part in the melee. Lots of fines are handed down and in four weeks Billy Martin wears a Kansas City uniform...

1970] Hammerin' Hank: Henry Aaron singles and homers in a game against the Reds giving him 3,000 hits and 570 home runs (5/17). Only two other players have had 3,000 hits and 500 or more home runs: Willie Mays and Eddie Murray...

1972] A campaign comes to a tragic end: Democratic would-be presidential nominee George C. Wallace is shot and paralyzed by gunman Arthur Bremer while campaigning in Laurel (MD) (5/15)…

1998] Perfecto: David Wells pitches a perfect game at Yankee Stadium in a Yankee win over Minnesota (5/17). It's just the 13th perfecto in the modern era of baseball...

2002] Finding a pearl: The remains of kidnapped Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, 38, are found (5/16) and will be returned to his wife...For more on May 15 - 17th:

Thursday, May 14, 2009

administers the first vaccination against smallpox to an 8-year old boy…

1853] Milk from a can?:Gail Borden applies for a patent for condensed milk after years of drinking unabridged milk…

1897] The Boston Pops takes note: “The Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Philip Sousa is performed for the first time at a George Washington statue unveiling. No one does it better than the Boston Pops…

1904] Truly Olympic: The first U.S. Olympics is launched in St. Louis…

1948] The state of Independence: Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion proclaims the independent state of Israel as British rule in Palestine comes to an end…

1967] Hall of Fame greats: Mickey Mantlebecomes the sixth player to hit 500 (or more) home runs. He will finish his career with 536…1972] 41-year old Willie Mays makes a dramatic debut with the Mets, hitting a home run against his former team, the Giants, in a 5-4 Met win…

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

1846] There goes the Cinco de Mayo celebration: The U.S. declares that a state of war exists against Mexico…

1929] It’s a numbers game: When the Indians beat the Yankees 4-3 in Cleveland, it marks the first game to feature numbers on the backs of the players…

1940] Churchillian: Winston Churchill tells the British House of Commons: “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat” in his first speech as prime minister. So how come the group wasn’t called ‘Blood, Toil, Tears & Sweat’??? Just asking…

1976] The Doctor makes a house call: Led by Dr. J, the New York Nets win their second ABA title with a thrilling come-from-behind (they trailed by 22 with 17 minutes left) victory over Denver at the Nassau Coliseum in the last ABA game. After this game the ABA becomes part of the NBA…

1981] The Pope takes a bullet: Pope John II is shot and seriously wounded in St. Peter’s Square by Turkish assailant Mehmet Ali Agca…

1985] Wedding Bells: Bruce Springsteen and Julianne Phillips rock down the aisle. They will separate in 1989 and then divorce…

1993] Elite company: One day before his 40th birthday, George Brett becomes only the 6th player with 300 (or more) home runs and 3,000 hits. The historic ball is picked up by a fan on a veteran’s hospital outing. The fan is blind. True!!!

2000] Rickey released: The Mets release Rickey Henderson after he fails to hustle and turns a double into a single. He was also hitting .219 with no home runs at the time…

2006] ‘Happy Trails’: Heatwave founder and lead singer Johnnie Wilder Jr. dies in his sleep at 56. Johnnie was paralyzed below the neck in a 1979 car crash. His spirit remained high even after he was paralyzed all those years…2007] Bill Todd aka Johnny Williams, former WRKO disc jockey passes away from Lou Gehrig’s disease…For more on May 13th:

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

of the Washington Senators joins Cy Young as the only 400-game winners in baseball history with a win over the St. Louis Browns. No pitcher has even come close to that number since and never will. Last year Greg Maddux became the 9th pitcher to win 350 games but he retired after the season. Randy Johnson is about to win his 300th but is likely to retire after this season...

1932] Lindbergh baby found: The body of the kidnapped son of Charles and Anne Lindbergh is found in a wooded area near Hopewell (NJ)…

1956] No-no, not again: The Dodgers’ Carl Erskine pitches a no-hitter against the cross-town rival Giants. The 2-0 shutout is Erskine’s second no-no…

1959] Victim #4: Liz Taylor takes husband number four, Eddie Fisher. The two will remain married until March, 1964…1971] Wedding Bells ring out for Mick Jagger and Bianca Perez-Mora as the couple rock down the aisle in St. Tropez. The marriage lasts until 1979…

1960] The Odd Couple: Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley team up on a TV special and swap hits…

1970] Let’s Play Two: Mr. Cub, Ernie Banksbecomes the 9th player to hit 500 or more home runs. In April, 2009, Gary Sheffield hit his 500th, as a member of the Mets...

1985] Knicks win the lottery: The New York Knicks win the rights to Patrick Ewing in a special drawing, begging the question, was this tainted love for the New York franchise???

1991] Teddy tribute: With Ted Williams in attendance, Lansdowne Street (outside Fenway Park) is renamed “Ted Williams Way” on the 50th anniversary of his great 1941 season when he became the last .400 hitter in baseball history…

2001] ‘Happy Trails’: Perry Como passes away in his sleep at his home in Florida after a lengthy bout with Alzheimer’s disease. Perry, one of the nicest people I ever met, was 87…

2002] Busted: Dionne Warwick is arrested at Miami International Airport when baggage screeners find 11 marijuana joints inside her lipstick container. She’s charged with possession of less than 5 grams of the stuff and signs an affidavit promising to appear in court...For more on May 12th:

Friday, May 8, 2009

1886] Things go better with coke: Atlanta pharmacist John Pembertoninvents the flavored syrup for Coca Cola. The drink originally contained a dash of cocaine used in the 1880s for stomach distress (5/8)…

1908] Put them all together they spell Mother: The first Mother's Day observance is held during church services in Grafton (WV) and Philadelphia (5/10)...

1961] TV wasteland: FCC Chairman Newton N. Minnow condemns TV as a "Vast Wasteland" in a speech to the National Association of Broadcasters (5/9)...

1961] Meet the Mets: The New York Metropolitan Baseball Club, Inc. announces its new team nickname: The Mets (5/8)…

1970] Limping to victory: Willis Reedlimps out on the court and inspires the Knicks to join the Mets and Jets as world champions of their sport (in the same season) with a 113-99 win over the Lakers to wrap up the NBA title. This was voted the NBA’s Number One Top 10 Heroic Playoff Moment (5/8)…

1970] Faster than a speeding bullet: In one of the greatest sports moments captured on video and in print, Boston Bruins superstar Bobby (#4) Orr flies through the air after taking a pass from Derek Sanderson and putting the puck in the St. Louis net for the winning OT goal that produces an NHL championship for the Bruins (5/10)...

1978] Guilty as charged: David R. Berkowitz aka Son of Sam pleads guilty to 6 murder charges in Brooklyn. He continues to serve a lifetime term (5/8)...

1982] The day that Musicradio died: At exactly 12 noon, Musicradio 77 WABC becomes Talkradio 77. After Dan Ingram joined Ron Lundy for the final Musicradio show, the WABC chime was used for the last time at 11:59:55 a.m. (5/10). WABC switched to a top 40 format in December, 1960 and for 22 years dominated ratings in New York. The final jock lineup was: 5-9 a.m. Ross and Wilson, 9-Noon Ron Lundy and Dan Ingram. Jay Clark was Operations Manager when the end came...

1982] ‘Happy Trails’: Record executive Neil Bogartdies from cancer and lymphoma at 39 (5/8). Neil was ahead of his time in the development of the disco, glam-rock eras and played a key role in the careers of Donna Summer, Kiss, T-Rex and others…

1987] No more Monkey Business: Gary Hart, hounded by questions about the Donna Riceboat cruise aboard ‘Monkey Business’, withdraws his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination (5/8)…For more on May 8 -10:

Thursday, May 7, 2009

1789] Havin’ a party: The first inaugural ball is held in honor of President George Washington

and his wife Martha with music provided by Lester Lanin...

1903] Red Sox Nation is born: It all started with this game. Boston faces off against New York for the first time as the then-Pilgrims beat the Highlanders (pre-Yankees) 6-2 at the Huntington Avenue Grounds in Boston. Bill Dinneen is the winning pitcher and Hobe Ferrishomers…

1946] SONY is born: The Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corp. is founded. The company will be renamed SONY...

1968] The name game: British singer Reginald Dwight changes his name to Elton John…

1957] No score: A line-drive off the bat of Yankee Gil McDougald severely damages Cleveland pitcher Herb Score's right eye, effectively ruining his career. Two years later he retires…

1966] Not so Keane: After winning only 4 of the Yankees first 20 games of the season as manager, Johnny Keane is fired and replaced by Ralph Houk. And this was pre-Steinbrenner…

1968] Not a good image: Dancer's Image, winner of the Kentucky Derby three days earlier is disqualified after it’s discovered that the horse was injected with the illegal drug “bute” to reduce inflammation of the joints. Forward Passwho finished second is declared the winner…

1987] Diane bows out of ‘Cheers’: Shelly Long aka Diane Chambers makes her last appearance as a regular on “Cheers"…

1999] Jenny Jones disaster: A jury in Pontiac (MI) orders “The Jenny Jones Show” to pay $25 million to the family of a gay man who was shot to death after revealing a crush on a male guest on the show. The award will be overturned on appeal…

2002] Seattle Slew makes history: Twenty-five years to the exact date that Seattle Slewwon the Kentucky Derby, the first of his Triple Crown victories in 1977, the great Slew dies at the age of 28…For more on May 7th:

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

1851] This is a lock: Linus Yale patents the clock-type lock and has the good sense to put his name on it…

1915] Bambino goes yard: Babe Ruth hits his first home run (as a Red Sox pitcher) against the Yankees. Three years later on the same date, he hits one against the Yankees as a position (first base) player…

1937] Oh the humanities: The hydrogen filled German dirigible Hindenburg crashes and burns in Lakehurst (NJ) killing 36 of the 97 people aboard in one of the most vivid scenes ever captured on film…

1954] Run a mile in my shoes: Roger Bannisterbecomes the first runner to finish a mile under 4 minutes. His time: 3:59:59.4…

1957] Profiles of a Pulitzer: John Fitzgerald Kennedy wins a Pulitzer Prize for his book "Profiles in Courage"…

1960] Wedding Bells: Britain’s Princess Margaret walks stiffly and properly down the royal aisle with commoner Anthony Armstrong Jones. They will stiffly and properly divorce in 1978…

1978] Last Triple Crown Winner: Affirmed captures the Kentucky Derby and will become the last Triple Crown winner…2006] Barbaro wins the Kentucky Derby, a first for jockey Edgar Prado. Sadly, tragedy awaits Barbaro in a tumultuous year for the thoroughbred…

1999] The Long Island Lolita is free: A parole board in New York votes to release Amy Fisherafter 7 years for shooting her lover’s wife, Mary Jo Buttafuoco in the face…

2004] Friends no more: An estimated 51.1 million watch the final first-run episode of “Friends” on NBC-TV…For more on May 6th:

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

1862] Cinco de Mayo: The Mexican militia defeats the French army in the Battle of Puebla, in Mexico. Sounds like a good reason to celebrate Cinco de Mayo

to me…

1891] Practice man, practice: The Music Hall opens in Manhattan. It will later be renamed Carnegie Hall…

1900] Bullets to follow: ‘The Billboard’ which will later be changed to Billboard Magazine starts publishing weekly after debuting as a monthly in 1894…

1904] That’s why the award was named for him: Pitching for the Boston Pilgrims, 37-year old pitcher Cy Young completes the first perfect game in the modern era (when the pitching rubber was moved to 60′, 6″). Young beats the Philadelphia A’s…

1925] What’s the Scope?: Dayton, Tennessee biology teacher John T. Scopes is arrested for teaching Darwin’s theory of evolution. 84 years later it’s still being debated…

1955] Rolling 5’s: On 5/5/55, Boston and Detroit combine for 5 runs with the Tigers winning 3-2. It is the only game scheduled in the American League…

1961] Reporting from the back window: Alan Shepard makes a 15-minute sub-orbital flight from Cape Canaveral which I reported on when I worked at WKKO in Brevard County, Florida. I did the report looking out of the studio window, a few miles from the launch for News Associates in Washington, D.C., which I probably helped put out of business with my report…

1973] The greatest horse of our generation: The great Secretariat wins the Kentucky Derby in record time (1:59:02). The record still exists. Of course Big Red would go on to win the Triple Crown in ‘73...

1978] Joining the 3,000 hit club: Pete Rosepicks up his 3,000th hit as a member of the Reds…

1986] R&RHOF approved: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is approved for Cleveland. Although he doesn’t get any credit for it, the world of music can thank Norm N. Nitefor that approval. No one worked harder to get the Hall built in Cleveland than Norm…For more on Cinco de Mayo:

1953] Papa picks up his prize: Ernest Hemingway is awarded the Pulitzer Prize for The Old Man And The Sea...

1970] Four dead in O-hi-o: Four die and 9 others are wounded by Ohio National Guardsmen in the tragedy at Kent State. The girl (Mary Ann Vecchio) standing over one of the wounded students was not a student but a runaway. John Filo, a photojournalism student wins a Pulitzer Prize for that photo...

1998] Guilty as charged: Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski is given four life sentences plus 30 years by a federal judge in Sacramento (CA), under a plea agreement that spares him the death penalty...2006] A federal judge sentences Zacarias Moussaoui to life in prison for his role in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks...

2001] Murder and acquittal in Hollywood: Bonny Lee Bakley, wife of Robert Blake is shot to death in Los Angeles. Blake will be acquitted for the murder...

2007] Gotcha:A judge in Los Angeles sentences Paris Hilton to 45 days in jail for violating probation in an alcohol-related reckless driving case by driving with a suspended license. Hilton serves three weeks...For more on May 4th:

Friday, May 1, 2009

1931] Happy 78th Birthday Empire: It was May 1, 1931 when President Herbert Hoover pressed a button in Washington officially opening the tallest building in New York City and the U.S., The Empire State Building (5/1)...

1952] Debuting on this date: Mama Potato Head gives birth to the son who will become Mr. Potato Head (5/1)…1957] Larry Kingbroadcasts his first radio show (5/1)…

1952] Derby Doings: Eddie Arcaro becomes the first jockey to win The Kentucky Derby 5 times, aboard Hill Gail (5/3)...1986] At the age of 54, Bill Shoemaker becomes the oldest jockey to win the big race riding Ferdinand (5/3)...2008] Big Brown wins the 2008 Kentucky Derby. Eight Belles, the only filly in the race, breaks down after finishing second and is euthanized at Churchill Downs (5/3). My pick for this year's Derby is in today's Timeline Countdown at the bottom...

1960] Where's Bono?: The Soviet Union shoots down an American U-2 spy plane and captures pilot Frances Gary Powers who will later stand trial in Russia. He will be imprisoned and eventually be swapped for an imprisoned Russian (5/1)…

1967] Wedding Bells: Elvis Presley and Priscilla Beaulieu rock down the aisle (5/1). They will divorce in 1973…

1971] NPR goes on the air: National Public Radio makes its debut (5/3)...

1974] Cue the shark: The filming of "Jaws" begins on Martha's Vineyard (5/2). Next time you visit the Vineyard, ask someone to point out the spot near a small bridge where filming took place. They say the water temperature was so cold (in the fifties), the extras in the water were freezing...

1991] Curtains: "Dallas" airs its final episode (5/3). The show that started in April, 1978, breaks viewing records in 1980 when 8.6 million watch the "Who Shot J.R." episode...

1991] Seven zeros: 44-year old Texas pitcher Nolan Ryan pitches his 7th no-hitter vs. Toronto (5/1). No other pitcher in baseball history is even close to reaching that mark. No one ever will be either…

2003] It's over: President George W. Bush lands by jet on the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln off the California coast and in a speech to the nation declares that major combat in Iraq is over (5/1)…For more on May 1 -3:

About Me

Mel Phillips Now & Then is more Now. The Then always follows the Now. Prior to starting 'Remembers' in 2005 and 'Now & Then' on April 7, 2008 I enjoyed a multi-media career which included being one of the Bill Drake program directors. I was involved in the programming of such legendary stations as WOR-FM, WXLO-FM, WNBC, WRKO AM & FM and KQV. I was also General Manager of Hooper Radio, played disc jockey in markets such as Tampa, Nashville, Norfolk and Atlantic City and enjoyed marketing success in syndicated radio for several companies including ABC, MJI and United Stations. My background also includes the music business where I promoted such diverse CBS acts as The Clash, Gloria Estefan, Loverboy, Judas Priest, George Michael & Julio Iglesias. In Special Programming at WCBS-FM I wrote and produced numerous specials and interviewed some of the biggest recording stars. In addition to this post I'm a regular contributor to Radio Daily News. My wife Diane and I reside on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and I'm very proud of my children, Robert Phillips, Lynn Phillips Brough and granddaughters Allyson and Amy...